A victory over Arkansas (41-23) on Friday at 1 p.m. would put LSU (53-16) in the championship round, a best two-out-of-three series, beginning on Monday against the winner of Bracket Two of the College World Series at Omaha.
If the Tigers lose, the two teams will play again on Saturday at 1 p.m. with the winner advancing to the championship round.
The Razorbacks defeated Virginia 4-3 in 12 innings on Wednesday night.
Anthony Ranaudo (10-3, 3.03 ERA) will start for the Tigers. Former Tiger T.J. Forrest likely will pitch for the Hogs.
LSU freshman centerfielder Mike Mahtook smashed a three=run homer in the first inning against the Hogs on Monday night in the Tigers' 9-1 victory. As he crossed home plate, he seemed to transform into the option quarterback he was at St. Thomas More in Lafayette as he pumped and bumped his way through teammates as if they were defenders and he was trying to score on fourth and goal.
"I guess I have a football mentality," said Mahtook. "I was calm at first, then I just don't know. Something happened and I just went crazy. When I hit home plate, everything kind of clicked. I hit a home run at the College World Series."
His dad, Mike Mahtook, and his uncle, Robbie Mahtook, played football at LSU.
Mahtook is a powerfully built 6-foot-1, 195-pounder who was recruited briefly by LSU to play safety and could have played football on scholarship along with baseball at Tulane, Houston, Connecticut, Louisiana-Lafayette and Louisiana Tech.
"Mike plays baseball like a football player," said Tigers coach Paul Mainieri. "He's hard-nosed and emotional; but sometimes he gets out of control. He can try to do too much or try to hit the ball too hard and ground into a double play. It's my job as coach to keep him under wraps. But I would take the way he plays 1,000 times over someone who plays passively."
Mahtook's homer was the first by an LSU freshman since Mike Fontenot against Texas in 2000. Fontenot is now with the Chicago Cubs.
Former Tigers golfer David Toms will tee off at Bethpage Black in the U.S. Open on Thursday. He is a huge Tigers fan and supporter. Toms, who finished tied for second in Memphis this past weekend, is playing very well and has been mentioned among the Open
favorites.
Dating back to the 19902 when Skip Bertman and the Tigers began their national championship dynasty, LSU would put together a dinner banquet at the team's hotel that recognizes the players and their families. The banquet was only done if the team won its first two games. On Wednesday night at the Embassy Suites Hotel, that tradition was continued for the first time since 2000. All 25 players and most of their families, coaches, support staff and several Tigers supporters participated in the two-hour celebration.
Tigers fans are very welcome in Omaha. Wrote Bob Shatel of the Omaha World-Herald: "We've had some fun stories around here in recent years.. But OregonState and FresnoState don't capture the imagination like the Bayou Bombers. We;ll take a party over parity every time."
"I think I understand my job, but I'm nothing special," said Mainieri. "The secret to success in this game is surrounding yourself with great people--that's the secret of getting to Omaha. It's not me. It's the environment around you. and I have a great environment."
SOME HITHER, OTHERS YON: Les Miles is enjoying the Tigers' success in the CWS. Three of his football players are playing other sports this spring: safety Chad Jones and receiver Jared Mitchell are on the baseball team and running back/returner Trindon Holliday is running track. Mitchell, a first-round draft choice, is expected to sign with the Whit Sox after the CWS and end his football career. Jones is a relief pitcher and threw 1-3 of an inning against Virginia. "Did you see Chad Jones pitch that out?" asked Miles. "I would hate to go into the batter's box with that big man throwing balls at me. I look forward to the opportunity these guys have. They come off the field with a national championship ring and a national championship baseball opportunity. I'm so happy for Paul Mainieri and that group." Holliday won the 100 meters at the NCAA track and field championships last weekend in Fayetteville, Ark. His best time in the 100 meters is 10 flat. :That's another national title he puts with his football ring," said Miles. "I would have to say that if you would look at our players who run track and play baseball, they've had great fortune to have success in both."
The SEC sports information directors picked LSU to finish third in a poll conducted by the Birmingham News. The poll had Alabama first and Ole Miss second. "I don't mind where we're picked," said Miles. "I think our guys understand what we're capable of, we play to what we're capable of. One thing about it, if they pick you first, it may be too high. If they pick you last, it's too low. You earn where you finish. We like it that way."...LSU senior infielder-pitcher Buzzy Haydel will return next season as an undergraduate volunteer assistant coach...Former Tulane quarterback J. P. Losman may be headed to the United Football League's Las Vegas team. He was the Bills' top draft choice in 2004 but isn't getting any takers in the NFL...
Two days after he broke his silence to HBO's Joe Buck, Brett Favre spoke publicly again to WDAM-TV in Hattiesburg. Favre is continuing his throwing program to area high school receivers, but he doesn't sound overly impressed with the results. "I'm throwing the ball OK, but OK is not good enough for he NFL, at lest not for me. So it's got to get better." The quarterback, in his second annual unretirement, stressed that any decision to play wasn't made yet, and he's not fully confident in his arm yet."
